Please join the Brookdale Community Discussion

  On Thursday, Dec. 1, the Brookdale PTA will host a Brookdale Community Discussion. The event aims to begin the conversation among all parents - PTA members and non-members alike - about the education and experiences they hope their children receive through the school curriculum and PTA-sponsored activities, especially relating to the presentation and inclusion of our various cultures in lessons and activities.

  To open the discussion, representatives will discuss the roles of the PTA, school administrators and a school-centric Parent Diversity Advisory Council in supporting our children’s educational environment and experience as well as how culture is shared by each group. 

  Following the presentation and the opportunity to ask questions, parents in attendance will meet in small groups to discuss the question: “How can activities at school best reflect the students at Brookdale?” After a period of discussion, the groups will be mixed so ideas can be exchanged with different people. 

  Although this is a PTA event, District 204 PDAC Chairwoman Sandra Charles will facilitate the round-table discussion process, which is similar to the PDAC’s World Café format. The idea is that the conversations link and build upon each other as people move between groups, cross-pollinate ideas, and discover new insights into the questions or issues that are most important. After the small-group conversations, participants will reconvene as a whole to identify common themes highlighted in the small-group discussions.  

  We hope the evening will provide insight into what parents believe is appropriate and desirable in the learning environment at Brookdale and serve as a guide for future planning decisions. We don't expect the event will generate definitive answers, but rather will be the beginning of the process.

  The event begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, at school and should conclude around 9 p.m. An RSVP is requested, but not required to attend. Reservations for childcare must be made by Monday, Nov. 28.

  To RSVP or make childcare reservations, please use the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BrookdaleCommunityDiscussion.